MISCUES GO TO DEFENSE LATE RALLY AGAINST LIDGE ALMOST ERASES ERRORS HOUSTON 4, DODGERS 2.

Byline: JILL PAINTER Staff Writer

The bullpen was at fault when the Dodgers lost five consecutive games.

But all was well when the Dodgers answered with a five-game winning streak and had a chance to finish their homestand with a sweep of the Astros.

They found a new way to negate a Jeff Kent home run, their win streak and a quality outing from Derek Lowe. And it wasn't the bullpen.

The Dodger defense committed three errors, two in Houston's two-run seventh, as the Astros won 4-2 in front of 37,133 Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers never led in the game, but the errors proved costly. Both of Houston's runs in the seventh were unearned.

Still, the Dodgers hardly had anything to complain about, especially with the way things looked a week ago.

``I'm happy with the way the homestand turned out,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``We would've liked to have gotten away with a win but we messed around and gave a good major league team five outs in one inning and you can't prosper from that very often.''

Kent homered for the third time in as many games. His solo homer off a 2-2 pitch to left-center field in the seventh inning came after two long foul balls down the left-field line.

Kent is safely out of his slump, not that he was able to put a finger on the turnaround.

``I guess when I figure (this game) out, I'll be dead,'' Kent said.

The Dodgers were lifeless in the seventh, when Houston added to its 2-0 lead. Eric Munson doubled and Adam Everett grounded out. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez grounded into a fielder's choice and then it became interesting. Munson got caught in a lengthy rundown, in which Lowe got involved, and Bill Mueller dropped the ball, allowing Munson to reach third.

Willy Tavares grounded out and Eric Bruntlett's ball to shortstop was thrown in the dirt by Rafael Furcal. Nomar Garciaparra, playing first base for the first season in his career, couldn't scoop it and two runs scored.

``It was a bad throw,'' Furcal said. ``That happens sometimes. I feel bad.''

Lowe's teammates had to feel bad for him, too. He pitched well enough for a win -- again -- but was tagged with a loss and fell to 1-2. He allowed two earned runs and walked one in seven strong innings.

In his previous four starts he had given up just three earned runs, but all those starts were no-decisions.

``In seven of my starts, we won five of them,'' Lowe said. ``The main goal is to win. It doesn't matter whose name sticks to it.''

The Dodgers' bullpen pitched well. Takashi Saito pitched a scoreless eighth, striking out two, and Jonathan Broxton retired the side in the ninth.

With a 4-1 lead in the ninth, Houston closer Brad Lidge got Kent to pop up in the infield but then the trouble started for him -- again.

Lidge walked Mueller and Jose Cruz Jr. Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, who had his first major-league hit a week ago, struck out on a low pitch. Pinch- hitter Willy Aybar, recently recalled for his hot bat and ability to hit from both sides of the plate, singled to right on the first pitch. Lidge then walked Furcal to load the bases.

Lidge was pulled in favor of Dan Wheeler.

It was the third time in the past six games against the Dodgers that Lidge has failed to convert a save opportunity. In his past threeappearances against the Dodgers, Lidge has walked eight, struck out just two and allowed sixearned runs on three hits in 2 1/3innings.

Yet, it didn't matter. Wheeler got Kenny Lofton to fly out to right field.

Game over. Streak over.

The Dodgers then left for SanFrancisco. Let the Barry Bonds home-run drama begin.

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Photo:

Dodgers starter Derek Lowe walks back to the mound after giving up a run in their loss against Houston.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer

Box:

DODGERS at SAN FRANCISCO

- Jill Painter